10:04am Saturday 27th February 2010
By Peter Martini
YORK City Knights have “signalled their intentions” for the Championship One campaign by naming their strongest line-up for tomorrow’s opener against London Skolars (3pm) – seeking a flying start on a day they traditionally under-perform.
Player/caretaker-boss Chris Thorman has made seven changes to the 17 that would have taken on the Skolars last week in the final Northern Rail Cup group game, a match which has yet to be rearranged after being postponed because of the weather.
And while Thorman has stressed the importance of getting off to a flier, his team selection also pays full respect to a Skolars outfit – featuring his brother Paul – whom many pundits believe will struggle this year.
“We make no bones about it, our priority is to do well in the league,” he said.
“Every competitive game we play we want to win, but we figure the league is more important for obvious reasons. We’re going with a strong team.
“Unfortunately, because of unfulfilled fixtures due to the weather, some people haven’t been given a shot. But we figure we should go with the players who have played and who have performed well. It’s very important we get off to a good start.”
Thorman has warned against complacency, even though the Skolars have conceded 178 points in their three Northern Rail Cup games, albeit against strong trio Halifax, Hunslet and Dewsbury.
Few fans will forget that when the Skolars came to York in similar circumstances early in 2003, they left with a draw.
Furthermore, the Knights have won only one and lost six of their opening league encounters since that 2003 inaugural season – three times to similarly unfancied Gateshead.
Asked if he expected that record to change with a big win tomorrow, Thorman said: “We don’t see London as easy-beats at all. If we play within ourselves, take things for granted and don’t respect the opposition, we will suffer.
“My brother is there and I fully respect him and how hard he works with the Skolars, and the changes we’ve made (to the line-up compared to last week) are significant. It sends out a sign that we’re taking the challenge as seriously as possible.”
Thorman has named a provisional 18-man squad and is to leave it late to announce his starting 13, with the main selection headaches being in the pack, where Alex Benson, Jordan Ross, Danny Hill, Richard Blakeway and Luke Hardbottle return after their omission last week.
“We’ve had a few players rested and ready to come back,” he said, having rotated players in the Northern Rail Cup.
Winger Steve Lewis stays on the sidelines after his hamstring strain, though he is back in training, while Jonathan Schofield has won his battle with Casey Bromilow for the scrum-half role.
The extra week off, meanwhile, has given key Skolars pivots Jermaine Coleman and Gareth Honor even more time to be right following their lengthy injuries.
Dual-registered players Luke May and Ben Kaye could also be back in the squad having been recalled by Harlequins last week for their friendly against Melbourne, as might David Williams, Lamont Bryan or Jamie O’Callaghan, though they were in the Quins’ provisional 19-man squad for their match against Hull. If they played in that game, they would be ineligible on Sunday.
Another dual-registered player, Ben Jones, was injured against the Storm so is out. Winger Austin Aggrey is also crocked while Liam Prescott is suspended, but Ade Adebisi, the former Whitehaven flier, could feature after building his fitness since his recent recruitment.
Skolars coach James Massara said the return of several players was a silver lining to last week’s call-off.
“It (the postponement) has been a nightmare – you need to play games and given the choice I would certainly have played,” he said. “But the benefit of it is I’ve a fuller and fitter squad to pick from and we’ve had another week to prepare.”
Knights (possible): Ratcliffe, Wilson, Mitchell, Waterman, Reittie, C Thorman, Schofield, Freer, McLocklan, Benson, Ross, Hill, Blakeway. Subs: from Stamp, Waller, Applegarth, Clough, Hardbottle.
Skolars: from Cook, Adebisi, Junor, Thomas, Small, Cunningham, Isles, P Thorman, Coleman, Honor, Welsh, Purslow, Montgomerie, Carter, Ball, Simon, Quinn, Williams, May, Kaye, Williams, Bryan, O’Callaghan.
Referee: Tim Roby (St Helens).
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